Give your floors a sustainable update with these popular eco-friendly flooring solutions. These beautiful, green options are sure to make you and the planet happy.
Bamboo
There is no question that bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly choice. Unlike wood flooring, bamboo is easier to replenish and it is plentiful in supply. Because of this, homeowners who are looking for a greener flooring option are turning away from traditional wood flooring and choosing bamboo instead.
You probably know that bamboo is not real wood; it's grass. Despite being a grass, bamboo flooring is 27% harder than northern red oak and 13% harder maple.
Reclaimed Hardwood
We live in a world of diminishing natural resources. Reclaimed wood is a type of wood flooring that is sourced from old buildings, homes, barns, warehouses and factories. Basically, the woods are being recycled and repurposed for flooring and furnishing. No trees need to be cut down to support the process.
Since the wood has already been used previously, the wood has a unique and natural charm. A lot of people prefer the look of reclaimed hardwood as compared to traditional wood flooring. They are also denser and harder since most of them were sourced from trees that were allowed to grow for hundreds of years.
Linoleum
Linoleum flooring is made out of natural materials like ground limestone, resin, wood powder and linseed oil. Durability is one of the strongest selling points of linoleum flooring. It is best suited for high traffic areas. It can handle heavy foot traffic without significant wear and tear. When properly cared for and maintained, linoleum floors can last for more than 40 years.
Linoleum is an affordable flooring option. In fact, it is less expensive as compared to other flooring materials like stone, wood and ceramic tiles.
Cork
Did you know that cork flooring is a by-product of the manufacturing of cork stoppers? Almost no waste is generated in the manufacturing process of cork flooring.
Cork floor is produced from the bark of the cork oak tree. It is resistant to fire, mold, mildew and termites. It is also a reliable flooring material that can be installed in almost every room in your home. However, it is not recommended in certain areas of your home where the floor will be in contact with water.
